Wednesday 4th November 2015

Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe versus BMW M4 (and more!)

Driving impressions will have to wait; for now the numbers against the new C63 Coupe's direct rivals...

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We've just driven the new Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe. But, though it pains us, we can't tell you what it's like yet because we promised to play the game and stick by the embargo against driving impressions. Or sharing pictures of it sideways in clouds of tyre smoke, should that indeed have happened. Numbers and pre-launch press photos it is then, plus the opportunity to get the inevitable Top Trumps spec comparisons with its obvious rivals out of the way first.

Run-out 507 Edition of old C63 last of its breed

Where to start then? Well, we know from the saloonand estate the C63's twin-turbo4.0-litre V8dominates the C63 experience and, given this is carried over more or less unchanged, let's kick off there. As per saloon and estate there are two versions to choose from; regular 476hp/479lb ft C63 Coupe or full beans 510hp/516lb ft C63 S. In both cars peak power comes at 5,500rpm and - crucially - torque from 1,750rpm. This compares with 507hp at 6,800rpm and 450lb ft at 5,000rpm in the most potent 507 Edition form of the outgoing W204 C63 Coupe - the last AMG on sale with the much-loved M156 6.2-litre normally-aspirated V8.

It also demolishes the 431hp and 406lb ft of the BMW M4 and makes the normally aspirated Lexus RC F's 477hp and 391lb ft of torque - the latter from 4,800rpm - sound a little weedy in comparison. We should probably also nod to the four-wheel drive 450hp Audi RS5 here, even if it's outgunned, long in the tooth and no dynamic delight, even with all the optional chassis and drivetrain extras.

Read our full review of the Audi RS5 2017

We already know the engine is mighty

Bring the noise

Such is the AMG way - when it comes to out-muscling the competition the guys from Affalterbach have to satisfy customer expectation. It needs to hammer the point home with suitable V8 noise too and all UK cars get the uprated, three-flap AMG Performance Exhaust as standard. This offers a wider range of sound, from more sociable Comfort mode to full-on window-rattling splendour when required. And, no, none of it comes from the speakers...

Looking good by the numbers isn't it? Sense a 'but' coming? You'd be right when we come to the weigh-in. Sure, the C63 S Coupe packs a hell of a punch on paper. But at 1,800kg it's 70kg more than the saloon (and previous C63 Coupe) and carrying a staggering 188kg weight penalty over an equivalent seven-speed M DCT auto BMW M4. The AMG is at least lighter than the Lexus by 40kg but that's little to boast about.

This side of a GT-R little comes close

Performance

The relevance of 0-62mph is questionable but, for the record, the C63 Coupe does it in four seconds dead, the S in 3.9. Assuming you can get it off the line cleanly (unlike us) the M4 claims 4.1 with the DCT gearbox, the normally aspirated Lexus and Audi trailing at 4.5 seconds. Top speeds are similarly moot, though AMG will raise the limiter from 155mph to 180mph with the AMG Driver's Package, including participation in an AMG Academy training event - this costs £2,755 for the C63 or just £765 for the S.

So to the vital fuel consumption and emissions stats... The new Coupe is at least a big improvement over the old car, with official numbers of 32.8mpg and 209g/km against the 6.2's optimistic sounding 23.5mpg and 280g/km. The BMW's smaller engine helps here, doing official 34mpg and 194g/km with the DCT gearbox. Weight and the normally-aspirated engine count against the Lexus, its official numbers 26.2mpg and 252g/km and similar to those of the Audi.

Of all the rivals THIS is the one AMG wants to beat

Pricing

At first glance cost also weighs against the Mercedes, which starts at £61,160 for the C63 Coupe and £68,870 for the S - an M4 DCT is £59,700, the Lexus £59,995 and an RS5 £59,920. All these cars have manifold ways of adding to that with various options packages and, frankly, at this level the difference is unlikely to be a deciding factor. Yet looming menacingly over them all is the £78,030 Nissan GT-R, a comparative price well within reach of any of these cars with a few options added and offering a totally different level of performance.

How close these cars get to that price will be down to your final spec choice but, for the record, upgrading to S from regular C63 also gets you 19-inch wheels over standard 18s, bigger 390mm steel discs on aluminium bells, active engine mounts, a fully active locking diff over the regular car's mechanical one and an additional Race mode for the AMG Dynamic Select. S buyers also have the option of upgrading the front discs to 402mm ceramics for £4,285, this approach saving nearly two grand over the £6,250 BMW charges for an all-ceramic set-up on the M4.

Edition 1 Motorsport Package has all the toys

Really looking to spend big? As is the traditional Mercedes way, the C63 Coupe launches with a bells and whistles Edition 1 option for £76,355. This gets unique 19/20-inch wheels, the AMG Aerodynamic Package comprising bigger front splitter, skirts and rear diffuser, black trim elements from the AMG Night Package that's a £585 option on regular cars, LED headlights, matt carbon fibre interior trim, Burmester stereo and quilted Nappa leather seats with contrast yellow stitching. And some decals. Still not enough? Spend another £3,000 and you can have the Edition 1 Motorsport Package, adding DTM-inspired yellow stripes and colour matched outer rims on the wheels, the ceramic front discs and the fancily titled Designo Magno Selenite Grey matt paint. Undisclosed 'sports tyres' are also available for a further £550, offering a "tangible and measurable increase in grip for ambitious laps on racetracks" if that's your goal.

Appetite suitably whetted? You'll be wanting to know how it goes now won't you. Bear with us...

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MERCEDES-AMG C63 COUPE - SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 3,982cc twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 7-speed auto with lock-up clutch (MCT), rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 476@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 479@1,750-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 4.0sec
Top speed: 155mph/180mph* (limited)
Weight: 1,785kg (EU, with driver)
MPG: 32.8mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 200g/km (209g/km with optional 'sports tyres')
Price: £61,160
*With optional AMG Driver's Package

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MERCEDES-AMG C63 S COUPE - SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 3,982cc twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 7-speed auto with lock-up clutch (MCT), rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 510@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 516@1,750-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 3.9sec
Top speed: 155mph/180mph* (limited)
Weight: 1,800kg (EU, with driver)
MPG: 32.8mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 200g/km (209g/km with optional 'sports tyres')
Price: £68,870
*With optional AMG Driver's Package

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MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG EDITION 507 COUPE - SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 6,208cc V8
Transmission: 7-speed auto with lock-up clutch (MCT), rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 507@6,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 450@5,200rpm
0-62mph: 4.2sec
Top speed: 174mph (limited)
Weight: 1,730kg (coupe, according to EC)
MPG: 23.5mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 280g/km
Price: £68,470 (new)

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BMW M4 - SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 2,979cc 6-cyl twin-turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual/7-speed dual-clutch auto (M DCT), rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 431@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 406@1,850-5,500rpm
0-62mph: 4.3 sec (4.1 sec M DCT)
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Weight: 1,572kg (1,612kg M DCT, both EU with driver)
MPG: 32.1mpg (34mpg M DCT, both NEDC combined)
CO2: 204g/km (194g/km M DCT)
Price: £57,055 (£59,700 with M DCT)

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LEXUS RC F - SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 4,969cc V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 477@6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 391@4,800-5,600rpm
0-62mph: 4.5sec
Top speed: 168mph(limited)
Weight: 1,840kg (EU)
MPG: 26.2mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 252g/km
Price: £59,995

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AUDI RS5 - SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 4,163cc V8
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 450@8,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 317@4,000-6,000rpm
0-62mph: 4.5sec
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Weight: 1,790kg (EU, with driver)
MPG: 26.9mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 246g/km
Price: £59,920

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NISSAN GT-R (MY14) - SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 3,799cc V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch auto, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 550@6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 466@3,200-5,800rpm
0-62mph: 2.8sec
Top speed: 196mph
Weight: 1,740kg
MPG: 23.9mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 275g/km
Price: £78,030

M4 and GT-R photos: Tim Brown
Lexus RC F photos: Anthony Fraser
All other photos from respective manufacturers

 

[V8A*ndy]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


At first glance I thought that Edition 1 pic was a Renault.

Edited by V8A*ndy on Wednesday 4th November 09:52

[Kawasicki]

Drove a new m3 last week. Fast, but otherwise not very interesting. A real disappointment. Like the opposite of what an m3 should be. Also why does it sound like it has a v8 when it doesn't?

[philmots]

How have they made it so much heavier than the saloon but with a quicker (on paper) 0-60?

I'd still have the estate over either.

[Dan Trent]

Kawasicki said:

Drove a new m3 last week. Fast, but otherwise not very interesting. A real disappointment. Like the opposite of what an m3 should be. Also why does it sound like it has a v8 when it doesn't?

Got a fix for this - watch this space!

Dan

[mwstewart]

This could be such a nice car, but it isn't. Look at the state of that 'Edition 1 Motorsport Package'.

I miss the tasteful Mercedes of old.

[cybersimon]

obvof ??

[Dan Trent]

cybersimon said:

obvof ??

obvof? Odd, not sure what happened there. Now sorted.

Cheers,

Dan

[GranCab]

Price and power wise the boggo C63 Coupe is on more on a par with the M4 ... n'est pa ?

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

That edition 1 car is total gash.

[FWDRacer]

As heavy (or heavier) than outgoing car just smacks of blunderbus engineering ideology. Nothing clever about this.

[buckline]

Will anyone buy the standard version - most would go for the S shirley?


edited for fat fingers

[Cupramax]

buckline said:

Will anyone buy the standard version - most would go for the S shirley?


edited for fat fingers

Yeah, because the standard 476hp and 0-62 in 4 seconds dead is never quick enough

[unsprung]

Taking a stroll through the numbers, we can be forgiven for giggling merrily at the lickety-split acceleration times. Especially given the curb weights and the (relatively) smaller displacements of the turbocharged engines.

Regarding forced induction... Just look at those torque numbers! Improved efficiency all around (relative to normally aspirated). Similarly, the CO2 figures are also lower relative to normally-aspirated performance of this kind.

A good dose of engineering and physics, here.

[smilo996]

it has been many years since Merc's volume car design has looked cohesive and well resolved.

Most of them look like they were designed by engineers or several people designing in isolation and then only viewed when assembled.

Audi dull.

BMW looks and acts the part. BMW continue to design interesting looking cars.

GT-R if the BMW disappointed in anyway.

[m3sye]

Dan Trent said:

Got a fix for this - watch this space!

Dan

Fix for what? the sound ?

[Dan Trent]

m3sye said:

Dan Trent said:

Got a fix for this - watch this space!

Dan

Fix for what? the sound ?

Yep! See here...

Dan

[Cupramax]

Dan Trent said:

m3sye said:

Dan Trent said:

Got a fix for this - watch this space!

Dan

Fix for what? the sound ?

Yep! See here...

Dan

Kind of sad really that in this day and age you have to start disconnecting things on somethime like an M car, supposedly the PH holy grail of drivers cars, to get it to sound decent in the cabin.

[m3sye]

The sound outside the car is crap too -

Would put me off and into an AMG if I had the choice tbh

[Mr_Dave]

I've had an M4 for a couple of months as a loan whilst my E36 M3 is being fixed.

I don't like it at all. Boring round town, sounds like a diesel, the DCT gearbox is jerky and horrible in traffic (its impossible to drive smoothly) and drinks all my petrol.

Worst of all, I'm completely and utterly fed up of having to press so many bleeding buttons to either make it go fast, slow or indifferent speeds. Why they’ve decided that the accelerator is the wrong tool to control the engines power, I’ve no idea. 3 modes for the steering, 3 modes for the suspension, 3 modes for the engine, 3 modes for the gearbox in both manual and automatic mode, no combination of which add up to the right one. Its neither involving or exciting.

Zero steering feel, zero brake pedal feel, zero feedback from the rear of the car

Its only any good when you're hooning it round with the traction completely off and at speeds where you'd loose your licence or have an aircrash of an accident should anything happen. That’s totalled about 5 minutes out of 8 weeks so far. No doubt, it'd be amazing on a track or round the ring...

Great seats, nice stereo and a cracking driving position are its good points. Shame it all goes wrong once you get moving.

Maybe mines running on beta software or something, but its certainly not the car that I read about in the reviews… If I’d spent my hard earned on this, I’d be gutted!

[Patrick Bateman]

I've never sampled a car with various modes for everything but it does sound rather tedious. Can't they just get it right and stick to it?